Which truck should I buy: Ram 1500 or F150

[elite]

Looking at getting a 2017/2018 Ram 1500 sport 5.7 V8 or a similar year F150 Lariat 3.5L ecoboost. I have driven both but really can't decide on which one to get.

Truck would be a daily and will be taken into the bush (off-roading/hunting) and some light towing (smaller camper/boat).

The interior of the ram I found is nicer than the ford (ford seems a bit dated) but the fuel economy from the ford would be better in the bush. Ford also felt more responsive with power.

Looking for opinions on which one you prefer and why to help me make my decision.

[JRSC00LUDE]

For me, I just have never looked at a Ford and said boy that's a nice looking truck. I really think they're the most unattractive of all of them, but that's personal preference.

I don't know anyone who's switched from Dodge to Ford.

[OTown]

F150, but I am biased having just bought one.

Better value IMO. Better tech. Better fuel eco (2.7) and better performance. IMO i liked the F150 interior and exterior.

But it all depends what you want, what you like style wise.

Have you thought of a Sierra by chance? My choice was closer to Sierra vs F150 than the dodge for some reason.

My parents have had 2 dodge products recently and they are breaking down and just shit all around. But they possibly got a few lemons.

[ThePenIsMightier]

The Ford should have better fuel economy, if that's important to you.

[dirtsniffer]

What's not important to OP? Reliability.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Ford has timing chain/cam phaser rattle and IWE problems, Dodge has cam and lifter wipe and exhaust leak problems. Take your pick.

[Darell_n]

I have a ‘14 Ram and ‘16 F150 5.0 at home. I’ve always been a Dodge guy but was considering buying a new Ford when the time came. This has changed over the last few years as the Ford F-150s in our fleet have been plagued with constant nuisance breakdowns. The IWE hubs on the front of Fords are the biggest piece of garbage ever built into a truck in the last 30 years so don’t plan on using their half ton trucks off-road regularly. Many, many electronic issues as well, repeated manifold failures and timing sets on the Ecoboosts. Wheels bearings, my rear pinion sounds like it’s ready to grenade any day now at 150,000 km. My experience is the Ford 1/2 tons are built way to light duty where as the Ram 1/2 ton just has suspension that is light duty. Both suspensions can be beefed up easily.

[spike98]

This debate is about as simple is drive all three and pick the one that just clicks. All three domestic trucks will perform well.

My personal opinion boils down to the following:

- GMC/Chev - King of the ride. Very comfortable on the highway. Lightest duty of the 3 as far as towing and payload. Dated technology (kind of, the new trucks adopt a few perks).
- Ford - The work horse. Highest payload/towing but they ride as such. Roughest out of the 3 in my option. Most expensive typically when optioned out but come with the most recent technology/perks.
- Dodge - Bang for your buck. Middle of the group when it comes to payload/towing and ride comfort. Cheapest out of the three. Some newer perks but still kind of dated. Hemi has some gremlins (the infamous tick) but is overall a solid engine.

I have owned both dodges and GMC's. Never a ford because i dont like the look of the half tons but again, thats personal preference. Styling wise, the dodge wins IMO.

[killramos]

What? No ridgeline recommendation?

[revelations]

Recommendations might also vary depending on how long you plan on keeping them. I keep vehicles for a decade usually so for me that means no ecoburst engines - simpler is better.

[2020]

+1 for ram. I definitely wouldn’t want to own a 3.5 eco boost out of warranty.

[dirtsniffer]

corvette > all

[Masked Bandit]

It seems like I hear far more stories of catastrophic failures (engines) from Ford, specifically the Ecoboom than any other manufacturer. Dodge will cost you some money in front end parts long term but they've also got the tightest turning circle so for city life that can be a big difference.

[ExtraSlow]

Exterior and interior styling is totally a personal thing. If you have a strong preference for one, you wont' be happy with the other. Kinda the same with the big V8 vs the small TT V6. They drive totally differently so if one feels or sounds better to you, you won't like the other. I find it hard to believe that someone who is seriously looking at a pickup truck has no opinion on these points.

Value or reliability, well, it might be possible to be unbiased on that, but I actually don't believe that.
The EcoBoost gets great highway fuel economy if you drive like a grandpa. In all other situations it's about the same as everyone else.

[killramos]

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It seems like I hear far more stories of catastrophic failures (engines) from Ford, specifically the Ecoboom than any other manufacturer. Dodge will cost you some money in front end parts long term but they've also got the tightest turning circle so for city life that can be a big difference.

To be fair Ford sells WAY more trucks than the other three.

- - - Updated - - -

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corvette > all

The real answer but I’m biased

[Masked Bandit]

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To be fair Ford sells WAY more trucks than the other three.

That's not nearly as true as the Ford marketing department would have you believe. Once you combine GMC & Chevy their numbers are virtually identical to Ford. Dodge runs about 2/3rds of Ford & GM but Ford can only say they sell the most if they're talking out the side of their mouth.

[Ca_Silvia13]

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Looking for opinions on which one you prefer and why to help me make my decision.

I had a Ram 1500 with the 8 speed and it was a great all around truck for hunting, towing and city use. The 8 speed is the key though. Great trans. I threw Duratrac's on it and it was a beast even in 2WD.

[killramos]

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That's not nearly as true as the Ford marketing department would have you believe. Once you combine GMC & Chevy their numbers are virtually identical to Ford. Dodge runs about 2/3rds of Ford & GM but Ford can only say they sell the most if they're talking out the side of their mouth.

That’s fair, for some reason I thought it was even more stark in Canada but the 5 seconds of googling I did didn’t support that stance.

[BavarianBeast]

Ram, no contest for me. Dodge looks better inside and out and the 5.7L is better than any ford eco engine imo.

Hated driving the fords at work, even the F150 Limited felt cheap compared to my 2016 1500 sport. After a long test drive of a raptor, id always go back to dodge for a truck.

[zechs]

I could never imagine owning a Dodge. So, SO many people I know with them love them, but they also all have electrical gremlins of some sort.

That right there is a 100% turnoff.

Having just bought a F150, I'd likely recommend a Chevy due to the feel and ride.

I haven't played with a Chevy with all the high end tech though. Ford's tech game is A+. And supposedly with swaybars and new shocks, the ride is much improved on the Fords.